If you are going to buy a car, it is important that you have all the facts to hand- especially if going to a car dealership. Sales people are trained to throw a lot of information at you and it’s easy to be overwhelmed especially if you are just that little bit tempted by the car anyway. Buying a car is a serious investment so a little information goes a long way.
Diesels are typically renowned for being more economical – a factor to consider if you want to pay out less overall when filling up. But newer vehicles with their modern engines tend to operate fairly well in terms of fuel efficiency so it can be difficult to choose.
You need to consider:
• The sales price of the vehicle
• Fuel economy – MPG
• CO2 Emissions
• Tax band
If you like to change your vehicle regularly or if you simply tend to cover low mileage each year, then the petrol version will potentially be less expensive. It’s worth noting that diesels tend to cost between £1,000 -£2,000 more for the same make and model and specifications so low mileage on average means you will make little savings when refueling.
One advantage to buying a diesel is that they tend to go for longer in between services, but in terms of repairs, diesel engine parts are more expensive to replace so this counterbalances the benefits.
Diesels although more expensive to purchase, do tend to have a greater resale value and hold their value quite well. They are fairly easy to sell too, as they are always in demand. They are also more environmentally friendly typically but the newer petrol cars may outperform even the diesels in the green stakes so it is worth double-checking.
If you are still confused as to whether diesel or petrol is the right choice for you, then think about the amount of driving you have to do. If you really put in the miles, then diesel is likely to be the better choice in the long run.